Bleacher Report: Wayne Gallman is Giants' secret weapon

Bleacher Report: Wayne Gallman is Giants' secret weapon

The dead period leading up to NFL training camps presents an opportunity for media experts around the country to compile lists, rankings and hand out awards. True to form, that’s exactly what we’ve seen here in 2017.

Related

Earlier this week, Pro Football Focus named safety Andrew Adams the New York Giants’ “secret superstar.” Now, in a similar but different list, Bleacher Report has named rookie running back Wayne Gallman the team’s “secret weapon.”

The New York Giants’ rushing offense needed a firm punch to the gut. The Giants averaged only 3.5 yards per carry in 2016 (30th), and the emptiness in their backfield often put too much pressure on 36-year-old quarterback Eli Manning.

General manager Jerry Reese has gone with a two-fold solution. First, he hopes Paul Perkins continues to develop after flashing at times in 2016. Those flashes were fleeting, though it was encouraging when Perkins averaged 4.8 yards per carry over the final three games.

If Perkins stumbles, Wayne Gallman could emerge as his safety net on early downs, which is why Reese selected him in the fourth round. Gallman may not have exceptional speed after running the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds. But he runs with fury and powers through tackles. His 153 forced missed tackles from 2014 through 2016 were the fifth-most in the 2017 draft class, per PFF.

Gallman accelerates fast to eliminate angles, which often makes up for any top-end speed he lacks. The 6’0″ and 215-pound Clemson product piled up 3,025 yards from scrimmage over the final two years of his college career.

Gallman, the Giants’ fourth-round pick, does have tremendous upside (see our film breakdown below). However, with Paul Perkins having been named the starter, Shane Vereen a pass-catching specialist and Orleans Darkwa recovering from serious injury, there are slim picking for any remaining offensive snaps.

Related

Still, there’s no denying that Gallman offers up a unique talent and a new array of options for the Giants. If he can finish training camp strong, perhaps there will be room enough for a larger than expected role.

Like this article?

Sign up for the Giants Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

Success

Thanks for signing up.
You'll be waking up a little more awesome tomorrow.